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Suspect in 1974 Cold Case Allegedly Shoots, Kills Self in SJ

A suspect believed to be connected to a 1974 cold case allegedly shot and killed himself at a San Jose apartment complex Thursday while authorities attempted to conduct a search warrant, according to Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith. Robert Handa reports. (Published Thursday, June 28, 2018)

A man believed to be connected by DNA to the 1974 cold case of a woman slain inside a chuch on the campus of Stanford University allegedly shot and killed himself at a San Jose apartment complex Thursday as authorities arrived to serve a warrant, Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith said.

Steve Crawford
Photo credit: Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office

At around 9:05 a.m., deputies made verbal contact at a closed front door with an occupant in the apartment near Merrill Drive and Camden Avenue. As deputies made entry, they observed a man with a handgun, and the deputies immediately backed away, according to San Jose police.

A short time later, a gunshot was heard. Deputies eventually re-entered the residence and discovered a man, later identified as Steve Crawford, with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Sheriff's detectives believe Crawford was connected to the slaying of Arlis Perry, 19, who was found dead and naked from the waist down at Stanford Memorial Church on Oct. 13, 1974.

Arlis Perry was found dead in Stanford church in 1974.
Photo credit: Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office

"It was an extremely brutal homicide in a church at Stanford," Smith said.

Crawford was the security guard who found Perry with an ice pick in the back of her head, several candles near and on her body. Police collected DNA samples from semen found at the scene, the Stanford Daily reported.

Smith said the department's homicide unit has been working the case "actively" since it occurred.

At the time of her death, Perry had just moved from North Dakota to the Bay Area to be with her husband, Bruce Perry, who was attending Stanford, according to a book “The Ultimate Evil“ by journalist Maury Terry.

"We extend our gratitude to local law enforcement for their efforts over decades to try to resolve this disturbing case. It remains a heart-wrenching memory at the university. Stanford has been cooperating with investigators over many years, and we know they’ve been working tirelessly to try to bring this case to a conclusion."